What challenges you'll face when getting a new dog;

Getting a new dog can be exciting. Wether it's getting a puppy or an older dog, or even adopting a dog after it's been rescued from the challenging life on the streets. When we get a new dog we all want to bring it with us where we can, go for nice long walks, bring them to the dog-park, along on other adventures, and show the new dog to all our friends and family. But what happens when we run into challenges where the dog isn't keen on saying hi to the people, or when they seem scared or, simply just not representing the dog you were told you were getting? Getting a new dog regardless of age and where you got them from all have one thing in common. They all need time to settle and adjust. Let's take an example shall we first with a puppy; Puppies automatically from the start are limited with how socialised they can be due to the dangerous virus they could stumble upon and contract on walks or meeting with other dogs that are out for walks, while they are not fully vaccinated. Depending on where you get your puppy from, most won't be fully vaccinated until they're 3-4 months old, whilst others might not be until they are 4-5 months old. This means that the only socialisation that the puppy will get is in its home with dogs they are around 24/7. They will suddenly not be around the dogs they are used to, and meeting new dogs can be slightly scary. With time, they will have gained several good experiences and will become more confident. Your puppy might have been presented as "house-trained" in terms of inside-business. When they get home to you, this might change for a little due to the reason of new routines. Different hours they will come out on, different amount of hours they are inside, different amount of hours of sleep they will get. Puppies that go through this will not necessarily need to be house-trained again, or get told off for doing their business inside. They will just need time and a little helping hand with adjusting to the new routine. An effective way is if you meet in the middle between their old routine and your new routine, and then move more towards your routine over the days. Not to forget; adopting a puppy is challenging, regardless of the training put into them and the time given to them. When they become teenagers, they are equal to an older toddler - challenging, and the only "cure" other than training and time is to wait until they are done with their teenage fase. Getting a puppy is a big decision, regardless of how many dog someone has had. If they have not had a puppy before while they were teenagers/adults, no one can fully understand what they are going into. But when someone is willing to take on the challenge, even if they might never want to take on such challenge again, having a puppy can be, and most time is wonderful, fun, hard and giving. It's something special to have had someone since they were just a little puppy and can give you a lot of advantage in terms of being able to shape the dog in a different way, that you might not be able to do completely in the same way, as with older dogs. Next; let's take an adult dog and a rescue case scenario - which I will say, I believe can be the most challenging, frustrating, but also the most rewarding situation. Firstly, I'd like to salute anyone who decides to take on a rescue dog, or an adult dog that has been re-homed. It gives these dogs an opportunity at a new life with better conditions than the ones they had before. When taking on an adult dog that is a re-home case, you might be presented with issues, that in the right home and family, does not come to life at all, just as well as you could be left out with important information. It's a gamble to get a dog from someone, because regardless of the situation, the owners are looking to find a new family to their dog. If important information is kept out, this can be an issue in the new family, which might lead to a new re-homing case. Cases like these also do require time, because some might react out on something that isn't there when they are given space and patience, but these are also cases that might not be resolved with time, and in this scenario, I'd say most people would completely understand that more time will not solve whatever the issue it has. The difference for the dog for the yet a new re-homing case is that, you'll be able to give correct information about the dog. Dogs that don't like kids, or other dogs, or cats, or men, can and will still find new wonderful homes. It's even easier if you are able to be 100% honest about the dog, because the new owners will know what they step into and can expect. For rescue dogs, time is equally as crucial. These dogs might have been beaten, intimidated, or simply just abandoned by someone, which can shake a dogs whole world. Talking from our own rescue, we train all of our dogs to be house-dogs, get used to kids, cats, new dogs and strangers. Some take it easier than others, and adapt quicker than others. So when we put up a dog for adoption, we give them a description of who they are, in the current time they are here. When someone adopts a dog we try to through the conversations we have with them, to assure we feel like it's a match, to explain to them that they will need time. It can be frustrating that after a week or two, the dog is yet not "settled", or still scared of something, or suddenly might lash out with behavioural-issues. Let me say this clearly; this is normal, and expected. Look at it from the dogs point of view; you have been abandoned, or mistreated. Had to live on the streets or out in the country with limited resources of finding food, or perhaps even having to fight for your food. People will yell when they see you for going into the trash, or being on your property, intimidate you. You are then caught, brought to the vets, poked at, then come to a place where you most likely have several dogs to have to say hi to, and be around - cats, new people, new smells, and none of your usual hiding spots. You then start to adjust and settle in. You get used to the dogs, your routine, the people, the smell, new hiding spots - whenever you have something new you have to stumble upon, you have your friends and human people that you are used to, to lean up against. Suddenly, you're arriving a new place, put into a crate, waiting in the airport to get on to the flight, seeing and hearing and smelling a lot of new things, loud things, scary things, with no one around you that you know. Then you come into a dark room in the place, and wait there for hours, until you arrive to your new family. New smells, new people, new food, new hiding spots to find, new routine. Have I been abandoned again? Will I be mistreated again? Where is everything I know and love? It does sound scary, doesn't it? And for dogs it is. Out of frustration as a defence mechanism, dogs might be overwhelmed and lash out in their behaviour. It could be peeing inside, destroying things due to stress, or even try to run away and hide, and perhaps even snap at people. Tell me you wouldn't become frustrated and yell at people and break down crying if you were "kidnapped" to an island you don't know where are, don't know the language, and it's a completely different culture than what you are used to. So what's the solution for the dogs that don't settle in quite fast and without issues? Time. I promise you, all it is, is time. Training always do good, but in the end, all that is needed is time. So what is time? Is it a year? A week? Half a year? A month? We use the 3-3-3 rule. In the first 3 days, the dog may be scared, extremely overwhelmed, might not drink or eat and shut down. After 3 weeks, the dog will start to settle in a little, though, this is also when behavioural issues might suddenly show up. These are temporary, but. it is completely okay to work with these from the beginning and to contact your rescue so they can help on the sideline. Putting the dogs away in some situations until they're fully adjusted might resolve these behavioural issues completely right after, or your rescue might be able to see through video what needs to be done Let me point this out, that I know is important for many, especially us. Do not be afraid to contact us early on if you are worried about something and are seeking guidance. Taking action and responsibility and mostly just being aware early of things, so you can be on standby is great. As long as you are willing to put in time and patience, you have a whole team behind you for guidance and support over the phone and in person near you. After 3 months, is when the dog should be completely settled into their home and new life, along with new things they are presented, along with getting used to their new routine. There will always be cases where after 3 months the dog might still not be settled in, or are continuing to show behavioural issues. Some might need a month more, but at this time it would be wise to contact a trainer or your rescue that might have people ready to help you and your rescue. Sometimes a little bit of training and slight changes in the routine, can make a big difference for a dog.

Whatever dog you choose to adopt, regardless of age, background and place - please give your dog time. It can be frustrating, and it's okay to be frustrated, but you will, if you give the dog time, get the exact dog that you were expecting to adopt, if not better. Half a year in the future, you will not remember how the dog had those issues, because they are a brand new dog - your new best friend that knows you in and out, and that you know in and out.